Cults & New Religious Movements 2012-09-05

2012-09-05 Agenda Attendance Introductions Professor Course Students Textbook Syllabus Moodle Students

Why study cults and NRMs? What can they help us understand? How do they help us understand it?

Syllabus

Course Description From the Academic Calendar,: A study of cults in the context of 20th-century North American society, beginning with defining cults in relation to sects and churches. Topics include: neo-paganism; Hare Krishna; the theosophical tradition; the Unification Church; tragic endings to cults such as the Branch Davidians and Heaven’s Gate; why people join cults; and the religio-cultural significance of cults today. Prerequisite: RELS 100, 110, or 120. Three credits. The course examines alternative religious traditions primarily in the west, often referred to as “cults” and more recently, as “new religious movements.”

Questions addressed The course will delve into two main types of questions: Theological Sociological

Theological Questions What do these alternative religions believe about: The divine The world Humanity The universal problem and its solution The good life Death

Sociological Questions How do new religious movements begin? What factors contribute to the growth and success of a new religious group? Do members choose freely to join new religious groups? Are they brainwashed, as anti-cult groups charge? Are there specific factors that predispose someone to consider the world of alternative religion as a place in which to develop his or her religious identity? Why do some new religious groups end with tragedy as in the cases of Jonestown, the Branch Davidians of Waco, Texas, and the Solar Temple? Are “cults” dangerous?

Objectives To become familiar with the beliefs, practices, histories and traditions of the main cults and new religious movements in the West. To become conscious of the role that the media plays in shaping and/or distorting our image of cults and NRMs. To reflect on what the presence of cults and NRMs in our society signifies with reference to mainstream religion as well as secular culture. To become conversant with the leading theories concerning why cults and NRMs begin and why people join them. To become sensitive to groups and individuals espousing beliefs and practices with which we are unfamiliar and at the same time, to be able to pick out those religious and social factors that are dangerous to the well-being of persons and groups.

Requirements The requirements for each term of this course include: participation, readings and online quizzes, a research essay, a midterm test, and a final exam.

Time Investment and Evaluation The student should expect to spend nine hours per week on this course. Evaluation: Participation (attendance and meeting with professor): 10% Weekly readings and Online quizzes: 25% Midterm test: 15% Essay: 20% Term Exam:30%

Using the course online resources http://Moodle.stfx.ca Use your WebFX username and password, same as for your StFX email. Click on this course Use it for: Writing quizzes Submitting weekly assignments Scheduling appointments Getting the powerpoint slides Checking your grades Keeping track of due dates Following related links to other sites

Getting to know me Name: Ken Penner Year: Fifth year at StFX Major: Early Judaism; Minor: Early Christianity Why chose this course: Evokes powerful responses Little-understood topic Many “new religious movements” in first century Judea: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, Christians, Sicarii, Manicheans Tells us about ourselves: what moves us?

Getting to know you Name Year Major or academic interests Why you chose this course What you hope to learn

How this course will work One session per week on a topic. E.g., What is a cult or NRM?; Who joins cults and why? Is brainwashing used? Why do cults have a reputation for violence, etc. One session per week on a specific NRM. E.g., Unification church, Wicca, ISKCON, Peoples Temple, Branch Davidians, etc.

For Next Class (Monday) Read the introduction to America’s Alternative Religions (pages 1-9). For your convenience, it is online on Moodle Write the online quiz (10 multiple choice)